Alejo Carpentier in “The real wonderful latin american thing” 120 years after his birth

Abstract

The article aims to highlight some of the characteristics linked to the work, life and personality of Alejo Carpentier. His work is one of the most influential in universal literature, and critics considered him one of the main writers of the 20th century in the Spanish language and one of the architects of the Latin American literary renewal, in particular, through a style that incorporates several dimensions and aspects of the imagination to recreate reality, elements that contributed to its formation and use of “the wonderful real.” Although he achieved fame due to his literary activity, he also worked as a journalist for much of his life; and musicologist, with musical research and concert organizations, among other activities. From these keys we recognize the figure of Carpentier this year as we commemorate 120 years of his birth.

Keywords: Alejo Carpentier, “The wonderful real”, Magical realism, Latin American literature, Imagination.